Disclaimer: Okay, who actually believes I own or profit from this? Cause if there is anyone I've got this great deal on some beachfront condos in AZ…
Note: Thankyouthankyouthankyou to my reviewers… I apologize for this chapter. It's short. Not much happens. But it had to be split up into 2 just cause I hate overly long chapters. So.. here it is…
Chapter 2
This was it. Her first day of school in New York. She was going to a prestigious private school in Manhattan: Albert Einstein High School. She tugged on the maroon sweater she wore, looked down hopelessly at the pleated gray skirt and her new Mary Janes. How… blah. Oh well, it was still better than those dumb sailor uniforms at her old school. The memory of Crossroad Jr. High brought a pang of homesickness. No… think about anything else… think about the shopping trip dad promised this weekend! About meeting a whole bunch of new friends!
A knock at the door interrupted her. "Miss? It's time to go," her driver called through the door to her rooms. Her father had hired a driver and a maid only a few days after they moved in. Lars was a burly bodyguard type: Ken Tsukino, new VP of Terran International, was taking no chances when it came to his daughter's safety. His co-workers and a few members of the board of directors had told him that their children also had bodyguards: particularly with the increased threat of terrorism and a recent spate of kidnappings.
A few minutes later the limo pulled up in front of Albert Einstein High School. Serena stepped out onto the curb and stared up at the imposing brick building. She quickly started up the stone steps, through the massive oak doors, and down the locker-lined hallway. Her first day of class and she was already late: only a few students were in the hall, hurrying from lockers to unknown classrooms, all with looks of utter panic on their faces. A sign hung beside a door halfway down the corridor signaled she had reached the office. Inside there were two desks, complete with harried secretaries, and a line of students all of whom seemed to be complaining about hiccups in their schedules. Serena took her place at the end and waited.
After what seemed like ages and what the clock insisted were merely five minutes Serena stood before one of the harried secretaries. "What's the problem?" the woman asked, sounding nowhere near as harsh as she looked. "And before you ask, no there are no more slots open in Mr. Norris' sculpture classes."
"Er.. no.. I don't have a schedule," Serena began. The woman gave her such a horrified look that she hurried to add, "I'm Serena Tsukino I'm new here…" The secretary looked vastly relieved.
"You just transferred from Japan, right? Yes, I have your transcripts and schedule right here…" she rifled through a stack of folders for a moment. "Ah, yes. Here it is," she handed Serena a half-sheet computer print out. "Now then…" the secretary looked around. "Ash!" she called and beckoned over a boy who had been slumped in a nearby chair. "Ash is our office aide this hour. He can show you around… Ash, show Serena the school a little before you take her to class."
Serena frowned. "But won't my teacher be angry if I'm late?" The secretary laughed.
"On the first day? No one actually gets anything done the first couple of days… Now go along. It's a big school!" and the woman turned to the next student.
"Come on," the boy, Ash grinned. He was tall, thin but definitely built, with short ash blond hair, and eyes whose color seemed to be changing even as Serena looked at him. "I'm Ash Roman, sophomore, and I will be your tour guide," he announced. "What's your name again?"
"Serena. Serena Tsukino."
"All right, Serena, be prepared." And with another unsettling grin from Ash, Serena found herself swept into a full tour of Albert Einstein High.